The Stoddards: ARISE & SHINE FORTH…. GIRLS CAMP 2012

In January, I was released as the YW’s president, and in the same breath, called as the camp director. It was such a blessing to me to participate in this camp. I loved spending time with the girls and their new leaders, and I loved planning and preparing for this adventure.

Our theme was: S’more Shinin’: @ home. school. play. Each day we focused on how the girls could shine some more (s’more) in their life in those locations.

Justin got to go to girls camp with me! I was the camp director and because it was ward camp, we needed a priesthood leader with us, so he stayed in the room above the garage in the amazing cabin where we stayed! It was on top of the mountain above Rockport.

When we arrived we split into groups and did mini workshops on how to “Arise” at home. The girls learned about laundry, cleaning & cooking. What a beautiful view! The first night we had a movie night on the big screen t.v.! We watched Tangled & Princess Bride. Below are leftovers from the snacks. Yes, we had to pull out the Tums….Early the next morning, we set alarm clocks to go off at 5:30. I snuck (is that a word?!?!) downstairs while they were sleeping at 5 a.m. & placed 15 alarm clocks around the room. I then went back upstairs and paced the floor eagerly anticipating them to go off. At 5:20 the first one went off!! The girls didn’t know what it was! They finally found it and turned it off, and went back to sleep. One of the leaders said to them: “don’t get too comfortable…” and then another alarm clock went off. In the mean time, Just was out front setting up chairs and the polka-dot balloons.

We walked the girls out the basement door, around the side of the cabin and to the front drive where we had them sit in the circle. There, we read the brother of Jared story in the Book of Mormon. I love this story because it teaches how Heavenly Father provided the air for the brother of Jared in his barges, but The brother of Jared had to search for the light. I talked to the girls about this concept and had Justin share with them some stories about women in his life who arise and shine forth. I then had the girls write down something that they could do to acquire more light in their life. They wrote it on a slip of paper, tied it to the balloon, and then we released the balloon into the sky as the sun came up for the day. Beautiful setting. A lot of girls camp for me this year was all about the food. Because it was part of my responsibility as the camp director, it because a major focus for me! (as food always is…)

One night we had hamburgers/hot dogs with french fries (you can get them frozen from Arctic Circle), veggie tray & chocolate fountain complete with strawberries, raspberries, bananas, kiwis, grapes, pretzels & marshmallows. YUM! One meal we Italian Chicken, scones, green salad & fruit. Thumbs up to the meal…and below, Rylee faithfully making every scone in a huge pack of Rhoades rolls! What a trooper!Brook, Kahia & Chelsea…love these girls! They were my laurels…and will ALWAYS ben MY laurels… Love them!

For our service project, the girls learned how to cover a tennis ball with yarn (using kind of a knitting technique to do it). These balls are then sent to 3rd world countries and given to children who really don’t have any toys. YUMMY CHICKEN DINNER & SCONES!For the last night after Testimony meeting, we pulled out the annual pig troughs. We fill them with ice cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, bananas & whipping cream and they can dig-in! Some were civilized and used spoons…but some had fun with it and didn’t use their hands. Either way you eat it, it’s YUMMY!!